'Divergent' 2014: Assigning factions to some of the new year's biggest movies

January 02, 2014|Matt Pais, @mattpais | RedEye movie critic

In “Divergent,” the Chicago-set adaptation of Veronica Roth’s novel that’s also the most-anticipated movie of early 2014, society is divided into factions emphasizing bravery (Dauntless), honesty (Candor), intelligence (Erudite), selflessness (Abnegation) and peacefulness (Amity). A person inconclusively split between them is called Divergent, and one unable to join a group is Factionless.

With that in mind, let’s look at the most notable movies opening between now and April and to which “Divergent” faction they might belong. Hint: Many characters need bravery!

1/17: Ride AlongBefore he can propose to his girlfriend, a guy (Kevin Hart) must prove his worthiness to her cop brother (Ice Cube)—which includes joining him for a [look at the movie’s title now].Faction: Candor and Dauntless. Divergent!

1/17: Jack Ryan: Shadow RecruitChris Pine steps in as the Tom Clancy-created CIA agent (previously played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck) to try to save America and so forth.Faction: Erudite and Dauntless. Divergent!

1/24: Gimme ShelterA young woman (Vanessa Hudgens) runs from her abusive mother (Rosario Dawson) in search of support after learning that she’s pregnant.Faction: Abnegation and Amity. Divergent!

1/24: I, FrankensteinIn the sort of grandiose silliness that often stars Paul Bettany (“Legion”), Aaron Eckhart plays Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, who apparently is just one of many monsters out and about.Faction: Factionless for now.

1/31: That Awkward MomentThree dudes (Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan) bro it up and wind up confronting the possibility of—ahh!—relationships in this raunchy comedy.Faction: Candor

1/31: Labor DayKate Winslet scored a Golden Globe nod for this Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”)-directed drama about an escaped convict (Josh Brolin) who kidnaps a woman and her son.Faction: Dauntless and Candor. Divergent!

1/31: At MiddletonA man (Andy Garcia) and woman (Vera Farmiga) hit it off while touring a college with their kids. Farmiga’s younger sister Taissa (“The Bling Ring”) plays her daughter.Faction: Amity

2/7: The Monuments MenA man played by George Clooney rounds up a team to help with a dangerous mission. This isn’t “Ocean’s Fourteen,” though; it’s based on the true story of guys protecting valuable works of art during WWII.Faction: Dauntless, Abnegation, Amity and Erudite! Thus: Divergent.

2/7: The Lego MovieChris Pratt and Elizabeth Banks lend their voices for this animated flick, which doesn’t look terrible, about a guy who of course discovers he will determine the fate of the world.Faction: Dauntless

2/12: RoboCopA reboot (starring non-household name Joel Kinnaman) may not sound like a good idea, but the involvement of Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Jackie Earle Haley and Jay Baruchel counts for something.Faction: Dauntless

2/14: About Last NightThe 1986 Rob Lowe/Demi Moore romantic comedy had no diversity whatsoever and was set in Chicago. The 2014 version moves to L.A. with an African-American cast headlined by Michael Ealy, Joy Bryant, Kevin Hart and Regina Hall.Faction: Candor

2/14: Vampire AcademyMark Waters (“Mean Girls”) directs another story about mean girls. Well, this time they’re not so much mean as following their natural, vampire-y thirst for blood.Faction: Factionless

2/14: Winter’s TaleA man (Colin Farrell) travels across space and time or something as he uses powers of reincarnation to save the woman (Jessica Brown Findlay) he loves. Faction: Abnegation

2/14: Endless LoveWhat a concept: A story about a wealthy girl (Gabriella Wilde of “Carrie”) and a rougher guy (Alex Pettyfer of “Magic Mike”). This looks steamy, though.Faction: Factionless